Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a ghabháil leis an Aire. I wish him and his Minister of State well. I thank him and his office for their help on various issues, many of which arose during the Covid crisis. There are still issues arising and his office is working on them at present. There is a sad tragedy requiring a lady to go to a family funeral abroad.

On Votes 27 and 28, I see there has been an increase in funding for overseas development aid for the sixth consecutive year. I have concerns over the increase in funding for the World Health Organization, WHO. We gave it a huge increase. I have many concerns about the WHO. I acknowledge the works of our visionaries and missionaries abroad over the centuries and I support them. We now have a place on the UN Security Council. Is it costing us? Are we buying the support of these people? Are we recognised as the truly independent and neutral country that we should be?

I also have major concerns about the Middle East because of the slaughter and persecution of Christians and some members of Muslim sects, or minority Muslim groups. We are not saying one tittle about it or intervening, and there is no debate in our Parliament about it either. We have rumpuses about every single thing, and rightly so. All lives matter to me. We had all the demonstrations associated with Black Lives Matter. All lives matter to me, unborn and born, from the womb to the tomb, but the slaughter in the Middle East is going on and we are not doing anything about it.

3 o’clock

The Minister has retained his position in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We need to debate such matters.

Deputy Michael Collins mentioned what is happening in Yemen and this is happening in other places as well. When it suits us, the WHO or the United Nations to turn a blind eye, we do so but that is not acceptable.

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